Brent Spiner

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Brent Spiner

Date Of Birth

Biography

Born February 2, 1949 in Houston, Texas, Brent Spiner is an actor best known for his role as android Lieutenant Commander Data in the television and film series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The son of a corporate vice president and a furniture store owner, he was adopted by his mom’s second husband after his biological father died. He attended Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas, where his drama teacher who coached the likes of Randy and Dennis Quaid influenced him to become an actor. He also became a member of the Bellaire Speech Team, which eventually won the national championship in dramatic interpretation. He proceeded to attend the University of Houston, where he performed in local theater. He then moved to New York City to pursue stage acting professionally, where he landed roles in Broadway and off-Broadway plays including The Three Musketeers and Sunday in the Park with George.
In 1984, Spiner moved to Los Angeles, where he immediately landed roles in several pilots and made-for-television movies. For one, he bagged a recurring spot on Night Court, the patriarch of a family of West Virginia hicks. He also had two appearances on Mama’s Family. He then made his big screen debut in Rent Control in 1984. He also appeared in an episode of Cheers.
In 1987, Spiner started playing his arguably most notable role as Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He appeared in all but episode of the entire series’ 187-episode run. This was followed by reprising his role on the spin-off films Star Trek Generations in 1994, Star Trek: First Contact in 1996, Star Trek: Insurrection in 1998, and Star Trek Nemesis in 2002. In connection, he also voiced his character in several Star Trek video games.
Spiner’s role on the Star Trek franchise lead to more roles, including prominent ones in the disaster movie Independence Day, and episodes on Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Friends, Mad About You, Frasier, and Joey.